What did Thomas Herrion die from? Ischaemic heart disease

heart-damageThomas Herrion played college football for the University of Utah, and in 2004 played on a couple of practice squads in the NFL. He played in NFL Europe and did well enough to earn a spot with the San Francisco 49ers as offensive lineman. 2005 was going to be a good year for Thomas Herrion until a fateful night in Denver.

After playing in a 14 play series at the end of the game, Herrion joined his fellow teammates in the locker room for a post game prayer. Thomas went to one knee, but never made it back up. He collapsed and died.

Though medical staff were attending to him within a minute of the collapse, there was nothing they could do as Thomas Herrion had died from Ischaemic heart disease.

Ischaemic heart disease is best summarized as a lack of blood flow to the heart. As a muscle, your heart needs constant blood supply. When that blood supply is constrained the heart begins to die. This is not a sudden onset disease, but a progressive one.

Thomas Herrion had significant blockage in his right coronary artery and Herrion’s heart was enlarged slightly.

There isn’t much you can do when a heart attack occurs, but once medical help arrives they can begin the fight to save your heart and restore blood flow.

To prevent Ischaemic heart disease you should:

  • Not smoke.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Monitor blood pressure.
  • Watch your weight.
  • Avoid transfatty acids.

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